Adams Impresses Again
Arkansas receiver Joe Adams returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. He also climbed into the Southeastern Conference record book with his fourth of the season, tying a mark set by Derek Abney of Kentucky in 2002.
Adams had a return of 60 yards for a score against Tennessee and had a pair against Missouri State — 61 and 69 yards. He finished his career with five punt return touchdowns, which is tied for third best in SEC history.
Adams’ return Friday night also was the first in more than 50 years in the Cotton Bowl. Former Arkansas great Lance Alworth was the last to accomplish the feat when, in 1961, he returned a punt 49 yards in the 7-6 loss to Duke.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
Adams said before Friday his goal was to score a touchdown in his final game as a Razorback. The punt return score was his eighth touchdown this season. He had four on punt returns, three receiving and one on a touchdown run.
Award Winners
While the Razorbacks brought home the Field Scovell Trophy for winning the championship, two of the Razorbacks’ standouts received individual honors.
Quarterback Tyler Wilson was named the offensive most valuable player and presented The Stanford Trophy. Senior defensive end Jake Bequette, the second member of this family to play in this game, was named the defensive MVP.
Wilson, a junior from Greenwood, completed 20 of 31 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns. Bequette, a senior from Little Rock, finished with three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble that led to Arkansas’ opening points.
Going For 2
When Kansas State’s Nigel Malone returned a blocked extra point 86 yards for the first Wildcats points it was also a first in Cotton Bowl history. And it was the first for KSU since Terrance Newman, who now plays in this stadium for the Dallas Cowboys, returned one 90 yards against Southern Cal in 2002.
The kick was blocked by Raphael Guidry, who charged right through the middle of the Razorback line. It was his fifth blocked kick of the season. Guidry just missed blocking a field goal in the first half as well.
Wright Loves Arlington
After his big game here in October against Texas A&M, Jarius Wright added another big game with a 45-yard touchdown reception in the second half. Against the Aggies, he caught 13 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the Cotton Bowl with three receptions for 88 yards and the touchdown.
It was his 12 TD grab of the season, a school record. He scored four touchdowns during his career in Cowboys Stadium.
The Sack Pack
Arkansas sacked Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein six times and had seven total in the win, topping the previous season best against South Carolina (five).
Bequette and defensive end Chris Smith led the way with two apiece. Tenarius Wright, Bryan Jones and Alonzo Highsmith added sacks.
Arkansas had 22 sacks entering the game this season.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
Wilson In The Record Book
A year after Ryan Mallett set a school record with 266 completions, Wilson broke it in the third quarter. Wilson finished with 277 completions on the season.
Somber Moments
Play was stopped with 10 seconds left in the first half as Kansas State’s Meshak Williams was injured in a collision with a teammate while trying to tackle Tyler Wilson. Play was stopped and Williams, a junior, was mobilized and taken from the field on a motorized cart. He raised his arm before leaving the field.
K-State had another scare when Tysyn Hartman took a shot to the head at the K-State 5 in the third quarter. He was motionless for a short time, but eventually walked off the field with help.
Childs Rebirth
Coming off his knee injury last season it has not been the season senior wide receiver Greg Childs had expected. But he turned in his top showing of the season with five catches for 48 yards in his final games.
Childs finished with 21 catches for 240 yards in 2011. He wrapped up his career with 133 catches for 2,066 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Hall of Famers
Former Razorback defensive tackle Jim Williams was named as part of the Class of 2012 to be inducted into the AT&T Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame during enshrinement ceremonies on April 19 at Cowboys Stadium.
Williams, a member of the 1964 team, played in the 1965 Cotton Bowl, a 10-7 victory over Nebraska in a battle of undefeated teams. He had three sacks in the game. He also served on the Cotton Bowl board of directors.
Also in the class was former Razorback and Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz. He never led the Hogs to the Cotton Bowl, but he did coach the Fighting Irish in three games, posting a 2-1 record.
Others in the class are USC offensive tackle Tony Boselli, Texas linebacker/defensive back Tom Campbell, Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie and Texas A&M quarterback Kevin Murray.
Home-Field Advantage
The Cotton Bowl was the fourth time in three seasons for the Hogs to play in the palace built by Cowboys owner and former Razorback Jerry Jones. The first three games were victories over Texas A&M, including 42-38 this year. So now the winning streak is at 4, all over Big 12 teams. The site of next year’s Arkansas-Texas A&M game, which will now be a Southeastern Conference game, is still undecided.
Well-Known Arkansans
During one of the breaks they showed highlights from the 1965 Cotton Bowl, Arkansas’ 10-7 victory over Nebraska. The video closed with a close-up of Jerry Jones headed to the dressing room. The in-house cameras flashed to a smiling Jones in a suite, sitting with Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.
That shot drew a chorus of boos.
— Arkansas News Bureau
